Important Terms to Know

Before you get into the nitty gritty of traffic laws and their associated penalties, there are some important terms you must know. Once you do, information about the traffic laws might make more sense to you. On top of that, if you learn about the seriousness of some offenses and the impact that the penalties can have on your life, you might think twice before you deliberately violate the law.

Moving Violation:  Moving violations are not parking tickets. These are the citations you get for any infraction that occurs while your vehicle is in motion. Now, here is what you must remember: sitting at a red light with your vehicle running and your foot on the brake can be considered as moving. Keep that in mind when you read about laws governing texting and cell phone use.

Primary Traffic Law: With primary laws, you can be stopped by law enforcement if found to be violating the primary law in question.

Secondary Traffic Law: You cannot be stopped solely for violating a secondary traffic law. If you are found to be in violation of a secondary law after being stopped for a primary law violation, only then can you be cited for the secondary. That said, good defensive drivers treat every law as primary. Remember, most laws are on the books because somewhere along the road, drivers violated the rule from which the law came. Chances are, people got injured or, more likely, killed.

Driving Privileges: You have heard it before, and now, you’re going to see it again: 

Driving is a privilege and not a right!

After violating certain laws, you can have your driving privileges
taken away either temporarily or permanently. 

Suspension: Your driver’s license can be suspended for a number of reasons. Under suspension, you lose your driving privileges but maintain physical possession of your license. That does not mean you can use it. 

Revocation: Revocation is more serious. If your license is revoked, you lose your driving privileges and your license. Once your privileges are reinstated, you must reapply for a driver’s license.  

Point System: Alabama has a point system under which it operates. Drivers who violate laws are assessed a preset number of points against their driving records. Any driver who exceeds a predefined number of points within a certain time frame is subject to license suspension or worse. 

Cancel: If it is determined that you received your license under false pretenses or lied on your license application, your license can be permanently canceled.

Implied Consent Law: When you become a licensed driver in Alabama, you agree to submit to blood, breath, or urine testing for the presence of alcohol in your system.

Your approval to submit is “implied” because you accepted your license. Refusing to submit to tests when requested by law enforcement is cause for you to lose your license. 

Admin per se: Admin per se refers to a law that is administered outside of the court system. Simply put, if you are found to be intoxicated with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit, law enforcement can seize your license immediately. This is not a court decision. It is governed by the Motor Vehicle Division. This law also applies if you violate the implied consent law and refuse to submit to a chemical test when requested by law enforcement. 

Now, on to the Laws